Apparatus for holding and advancing articles



E. D. HANSON Oct. 23, 1956 I APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND ADVANCING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 30; 1953- 2 Sheets-Sheet lNl/ENTOR ED. HANSON ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1956 E. D. HANSON 7,

APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND ADVANCING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 30, 1953 I 2 Sheets-Sheet'Z FIG. 2

lNl/EN TOR E. D. HANSON BY p71 ATTORNEY United States Patent Off 2,767,623 Patented Oct. 23, 1956 ice APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND ADVANCING ARTICLES Estyle D. Hanson, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated,'New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York This invention relates to advancing articles, and more apparatus for holding and particularly to apparatus for gripping a plurality of workpieces and advancing them in succession past an operating station. I

In the manufacture of telephone plugs, it is necessary to perform several profiling operations by means of milling machines in order to convert short lengths of brass tubing into the plug bodies. It is desirable to place the brass tubes on the periphery of a rotatable table which advances them successively past a fixed operatingstation which a milling machine is located. Since the dimensions of the finished plugs must be held within close limits, the tubes must be positioned accurately and gripped positively while they are being worked upon by the milling machine. 1

An object of this invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for holding and advancing articles.

- Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for gripping and positioning workpieces while advancing them past an operatingstation.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include a plurality of latches, means for mounting the latches inv an endless formation 'adjacent'to an operating station, means for rotating the latchesto' advance them successively past the operating station, and means for successively clamping the latches against the articles while they are advancing'past the operating station.

A complete understanding of the.invention may-be obtained from the following detailed description of 'a' specific embodiment thereof, whenconsidered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:.

Fig. 1 isa top plan view of apparatus embodying the invention, with portions broken away to show the internal structure; e Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

A circular table 10 mounted rotatably on a fixed vertical shaft 12 is provided near its periphery with a concentric ring 14 having a plurality of V-shaped, radially extending grooves 16-16 spaced at equal intervals alongthe top surface thereof. Each of the grooves 16-16 is designed to receive one of a plurality of cylindrical plugs 18-18, as is best shown in Fig. 4. The plugs protrude radially outward predetermined distances beyond both sides of the ring 14, and these distances are limited by an annular shoulder 19 provided intermediate the ends of each of the plugs. The shoulder 19 is shoved up againstthe outer side of the ring 14 when the plugs are inserted into the vertical section taken along vertical section taken along grooves 16-16, as shown in Figs. 1 and'Z. Rotation of the table 10 carries a succession of the plugs 18-18 past a milling machine 20 having a pair of rotatable cutters 22-22 thereon which are driven by a motor 24. The protruding outer end of each of the plugs 18-18 passes between the pair of cutters 22-22,'therebyfiremoving this arcuate portion 52 the end I are of about slices from both the upper and the end. The result of this milling straddle cut.

Power is applied by a meter 26 (Fig. 1) to rotate the table 10 at a constant speed. By means of suitable speed reducing gears 28-28, the motor 26 rotates a shaft 30 having a worm 32 mounted thereon. The worm 32 is in meshing engagement with a worm gear 34 which is secured to a'hub 36 of the table 10 (Fig. 2). Both the worm gear 34 and the hub 36 are mounted rotatably on the fixed vertical shaft 12 by means of a pair of bearings 38-38. The shaft 30 is journaled within opposite side walls 4tl-40 (Fig. 1) of a housing 42, which encloses the motor 26 and the gears 28-28.

During the milling operation, the be held firmly within the grooves 16-16 on the ring 14. This is accomplished by a plurality of latches 44-44, one of which is located above each of the grooves 16-16. The latches 44-44 are arranged in end to end relationship in a'circle, and they normally rest on top of the ring 14. As is shown in Fig. 4, the latches 44-44 are provided with V-shaped grooves 46-46, each of which cooperates with the adjacent one of the grooves 16-16 in the ring 14 to grip the plugs 18-18.

All of the latches 44-44 are joined pivotally to the ring 14, so' that they may be tilted independently'while the plugs 18-18 are being inserted or removed from the cooperating grooves 16-16 and 46-46. As viewed in Fig. 4, the pivot point is located near the right hand end of each of the latches 44-44, at which point a pin 48 lower portions of said operation is called a plugs 13-18 must extendingtransversely through each latch is journaled Within one of a series of cars Sit-50 that protrude upwardly from the ring 14. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower right hand corner of each of the latches is provided with an arcuate portion.52.to provide suflicient clearance above the ring 14 to allow the latches to be tilted through an angle of at least about 15 above horizontal. Above wall of each of the latches slopes away from vertical up to the top of the latch, in order to provide sufiicient clearance between adjacent latches for the latches to be tilted independently.

The right hand end of each of thelatehes 44-44, as viewed in Figs. 3 and .4, is provided with a slot 54 located at the midpoint transversely of the latch and extending from the bottom to the top'of the latch. The slot 54 is designed to receive a tongue 56 which protrudes from the left hand end of each of the latches, so that when the latches-44-44 are in their normal horizontal position the tongue 56 on each latch projects into theslot 54 on the next adjacent latch to its left. In Fig. 4 the adjacent ends of two of the latches are broken away vertically to illustrate this relationship.

Below each tongue 56 this end of the latch is curved concavely, and may bear against one of the ears 50-50 which protrude upwardly from the ring 14. Thus, when the plugs 18-18 are absent, each of the latches is supported by two of the ears 56-56, of which one ear abuts the latch directly belowits tongue 56 while the other car is located at the latch. However, when the plugs 18-18 are present, thelatches 44-44 normally are horizontal and the clearance between these latches and the ring 14 is such that the plugs 18-18 may be, gripped firmly between the latches and the ring in the cooperating grooves 16-16 and 46-46.

As shown in Fig. 1, the plugs 18-18 are inserted one at a time between the ring 14 and the latches 44-44 in the vicinity of a location designated A in the path of rotation of these elements. Rotation of the table 10 by the motor 26 causes the plug 18-18 to be advanced successively in a counterclockwise direction through an to a location designated B, at which pivot point on the other end of the point the plugs pass between the cutters 22-22 of the milling machine 20, where the plugs receive a straddle cut. Continued rotation ofthe table bringsthe plugs around through an arc of about 180 beyondlocation B to a discharge chute 56 positioned adjacent to the periphery of the table 10 at a location designated C.

In order. to clamp the plugs 18-18 firmly between the ring 14 and the latches 44-44 while the plugs are being profiled by the milling machine-20, the latches in the vicinity of location B are urged downwardly against the ring 14 by means of a plurality of frustoconical rollers 60-60. A plurality of bars 62-62, one for each of the rollers 60-60, are mounted pivotally within 64- (Fig. 2), which is suspended abovethe table 10 at lo cation B, At one end of each of the bars 62-62,.one of the rollers 60-60 is mounted rotatably. This end of each of the bars 62-62 protrudes beyond the bracket 64- and projects over the latches 44-44. The other end a bracket 1 of each bar is urged upwardly by a compression spring 66 located in the bracket 64, which spring cause the bar to pivot about a fulcrum 68 thereby pressing the rollers 60-69 downwardlyagainst the latches .44-44 with sufficient pressure to clamp the plugs 18-18 firmly.

As viewed in Fig. 2, only one spring 66'is visible, but a plurality of such springs are present in the bracket 64, there being one spring for each of the bars 62. In order to seat these springs in positive abutting contact with the bar 62-62, the bars may be provided with a flattened portion (not shown) directly over the springs, or the bars may be made square in cross-section.

The rollers 60-60 are arranged side byside in an arcuate row which conforms in curvature to a segment of the circular formation of the latches 44-44.. With respect to the arcuate row of the rollers 60-60, the bars 62-62 are mounted radially and they extend transversely through the bracket 64. This bracket is secured to the underside of an arcuate bridge 70 by means of a plurality of bolts 72-72. The bridge 70 overhangs a segment of the table 10, and its curvature islconcentric with the curvature of the arcuateirow of the rollers 60-60. At opposite ends of the bridge 70 a pair of legs 74-74 extend radially outward and are secured to a pair of vertical posts 76-76 mounted on the housing 42 at opposite sides of the milling machine 20.

The housing 42 is provided with a cover plate 80 having a circular opening 82 therein through which the vertical shaft 12 and the hub 36 of the table 10 pass. The table 10 extends out over the cover plate 80 beyond the opening 82.. As shown in Fig. 2, a cushion 84 is positioned on top of the plate 80 directly below the position at which the rollers 60-60 are located. The cushion 84 prevents the rollers 60-60 from pushing the table 10 down into rubbing contact with the plate 80.

The plugs 18-18 are advanced through an arc of about 270 from position A, where they are first inserted into one of the notches 16-16 on the ring 14, to position C, where they are ejected automatically onto the discharge chute 58. This chute i secured to the cover plate 30 adjacent to the rim of the table 10. A knockout arm 86, secured to the discharge chute 58,- projects into the path through which the plugs are rotated, for the purpose of insuring that the plugs are ejected by the time they reach this point. However, ordinarily the plugs 18-18 are ejected before they reach the knockout arm 86.

A pair of cams 88 and 90, which are held permanently to a shelf 96 formed on the inner periphery of the ring 14, so that this ring may be rotatedby the table 10 while the cams are held stationary at location C and adjacent to the inner side of the circular formation of the latches 44-44.

There are a plurality of pins 98-98, one pin for each of the latches, projecting from the inner side of the latches. The pins 93-98 strike the cam 90, as shown in Fig. 3, when the latches are advanced past location C, thereby successively tilting the latches about their pivot point 48. This action successively raises the end of the latches on which the grooves 46-46 (Fig. 4) are located, and in this manner releases the plugs 18-18. Meanwhile the cam 83 successively comes into contact with the protruding inner ends of the plugs 13-18, As the plugs ride over the cam 88, they are tilted sufliciently for them to fall by gravity As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for its entire length the cam 90 isslightly higher than the cam 88, and the pins 98-93 are all located a corresponding distance above the projecting inner ends of the plugs 13-18, in order to tilt the latches slightly before the plugs begin to tilt. The cam 88 is located directly alongside the latches 44-44, while the cam 90 is located a little further away from them. Hence, it is necessary to have the pins 93-98 project across the cam 88 far enough to come in contact with the cam 90. For this reason, the pins 98-98 are longer than the projecting inner ends of the plugs 18-18.

After the latches 44-44 have been advanced from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 3, beyond the cams 88 and 90, the tilted latches ordinarily fall by gravity back. into their normal horizontal position resting on the ears 50- 50 of the ring 14. However, in the event that gravity should .fail to make the latches fall back intothis horizontal position, they are wiped back into this position by a sweep arm 100, which extends from the stationary arm 92 outwardly in a fixed position slightly beyond location C. Thus, before the latches get back to position A in the endlesspath in which they are advanced by the rotation of the table 10, the latches are back in their normal horizontal position again. i In constructing the above-described apparatus, it is advisable to grind down the upper surfaces of the latches 44-44 after they have all been secured to the ring 14, in order to make the tops of the latches perfectly even, so that they will present a smooth and level track for therollers -60 to ride on. The interlocking of each slot 54 with each tongue 56 on adjacent latches, eliminates interruptions in this track and also assists in keeping the latches aligned properly in their circular formation.

After the apparatus has been assembled and the plugs 18-18 have been inserted between the ring 14 and the latches 44-44, the level of the tops of the latches may be slightly different due to variations in the dimensions of the plugs. However, even in their unfinished state the dimensions of the plugs are held within close at location C, automatically causes the plug 18-18 1 and the latches 44-44, respectively, to be tilted. when they reach this location. Both of these cams are arcuate in shape, as shown in gradually from left to right, as viewed in Pig. 3. Both cams are secured at the outer end of a stationary arm-92 which extends radially outwardly from the top of the fixedvertical shaft 12, where the arm 92 is secured by a screw 94 '(Fig. 2) The cams 88 and are spaced closely Fig. l, and theyslope upward limits. Hence, the rollers are not required to move vertically up and down more than about 0.005 inch as they roll across the tops of the latches. The pivotal mounting of the bars 62-62, on the ends of which the rollers 60-60 are secured, allows these bars to rock on their fulcrum 68 when the rollers change elevation to this extent. At the same time, the compression springs, such as the spring 66, constantlyurge the rollers 60-60 downwardly against the tops of. the latches 44-44 with pressure. In this manner the plugs 18-18 are positioned accurately and gripped positively while they are being profiled by the milling machine 20.

Obviously, the specific construction of the various elements of the apparatus may be varied to suit special requirements, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

onto the discharge chute 58.

1. Apparatus for gripping a plurality of workpieces and feeding them in succession to a machine which performs work on them, which comprises ak'circular table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means for rotating the table to advance the periphery thereof past the machine, a plurality of latches arranged in end to end relationship in a continuous circle located near the periphery of the top of the table, each of said latches being joined pivotally to the table so that they may be tilted independently, a resilientlymounted presser riding on the top of the circle of latches near the machine for successively urging the latches into clamping engagement with the workpieces while they are advancingpast the machine, and means fortsuccessively ejecting the workpieces after they have advanced past the machine.

2. Apparatus for gripping a plurality of workpieces and feeding them in succession to a machine'which performs work on them, which comprises a circular table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means for rotating the table to advancethe periphery thereof past the machine, a plurality of latches arranged in end to end relationship in a continuous circle located near the periphery of the top of the table, each of said latches being joined pivotally to the table so that they may be tilted independently, -a plurality of resiliently mounted rollers riding on the top of the circle of latches inthe vicinity of the machine for successivelyurging the latches downwardly into clamping engagement with the workpieces while they are advancing past themachine,means for successively tilting the latches after they have advanced past the machine, and means for ejecting the workpieces when the latches are tilted.

3. Apparatus for gripping a plurality of workpieces and feeding them in succession to a machine which performs work on them, which comprises a circular table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means for rotating the table to advance the periphery thereof past the machine, a plurality of latches arranged in end to end relationship in a continuous circle located near the periphery of the top of the table, each of said latches being joined pivotally to the table so that they may be tilted independently, a bridge supported above a portion of the periphery of the table near the machine, a plurality of resiliently mounted rollers suspended from the bridge and riding on the top of the circle of latches for successively urging the latches downwardly into clamping engagement with the workpieces while they are advancing past the machine, a cam fixed near the periphery of the table for successively tilting the latches after they have advanced past the machine, and means for ejecting the workpieces when the latches are tilted.

4. Apparatus for gripping a plurality of workpieces and feeding them in succession to a machine which performs work on them, which comprises a circular table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means for rotating the table to advance the periphery thereof past the machine, said table having a plurality of grooves at equal intervals on its periphery into which the workpieces may be inserted, a plurality of latches mounted in end to end relationship in a continuous circle above the grooves, each of said latches having one end positioned above one of the grooves and having the other end joined pivotally to the table, a bridge supported above a portion of the periphery of the table near the machine, a plurality of rotatably mounted bevelled rollers suspended resiliently from the bridge in an arcuate row and riding on the top of the circle of latches for sucsessively urging the latches downwardly to clamp the workpieces in the grooves 011 the table as they advance past the machine, a cam fixed near the periphery of the table for successively tilting the latches after they have advanced past the machine, and means for ejecting the workpieces when the latches are tilted.

5, Apparatus for gripping a plurality of workpieces and feedingthem in succession to a machine which pe'rforms work on them, which comprises a circular table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means for rotating the table to advance the periphery thereof past the machine, said -table having a plurality of radially extending grooves at equal intervals on its periphery, each of said grooves being designed to receive one of the workpieces, a plurality of latches mounted in end to end relationship in a continuous circle above the grooves,- each of saidlatches having one end positioned above one of thegrooves and having the otherend joined pivotally to'the. table, a bridge supported above a portion of the periphery of the table near the machine, a, plurality of spring-biased bars suspended from the bridge in an arcuate row conforming in curvature :to the circle of latches, a plurality of-bevelled rollers mounted rotatably on the bars and riding on the topof the circle of latches so that the latchesare successively urged downwardly to clamp the workpieces in the grooves on the table as they advance past the machine, a cam fixed near the periphery of-the table for successively tilting the latches after they have advanced past the machine, and nieans for ejecting the workpieces when the latches are ti ted.

6. Apparatus} for gripping a plurality of workpieces and feeding ,them in succession to a machine which performs work on' them, which comprises a circular table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means for rotating'the table to advance the periphery thereof past the machine, said table having a plurality of radially extending grooves at equal intervals on its periphery, each of said grooves being designed to receive one of the workpieces, a plurality of latches joined pivotally to the top of the table in a circular end to end formation in which each one of the latches is positioned above one of the grooves, each of said latches having a tongue protruding from one end thereof and having a corresponding slot formed in the opposite end thereof so that the tongue and the slot on each set of adjacent latches normally interlock, a bridge supported above a portion of the periphery of the table near the machine, a plurality of bars suspended pivotally from the bridge, a plurality of rollers one for each bar mounted rotatably on one end of the bars in an arcuate row conforming in curvature to the circular formation of the latches and riding in contact with the tops of the latches, a plurality of springs one for each bar for urging the bars to pivot to press the rollers downwardly against the latches and thereby clamp the workpieces in the grooves on the table as they advance past the machine, a cam fixed near the periphery of the table for successively tilting the latches after they have advanced past the machine, and means for ejecting the workpieces when the latches are tilted. I

7. Apparatus for gripping a plurality of workpieces and feeding them in succession to a machine which performs work on them, which comprises a circular table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means for rotating the table to advance the periphery thereof past the machine, said table having a plurality of radially extending grooves at equal intervals on its periphery, each of said grooves being designed to receive one of the workpieces, a plurality of latches joined pivotally to the top of the table in a circular end to end formation, each of said latches having a pin protruding from one side thereof and having a groove formed in the bottom thereof for cooperating with one of the grooves in the table to clamp one of the workpieces therebetween, each of said latches also having a tongue protruding from one end thereof and having a corresponding slot formed in the opposite end thereof so that the tongue and the slot on each set of adjacent latches normally interlock, a bridge supported above a portion of the periphery of the table near the machine, a bracket suspended from the bridge, a plurality of bars mounted pivotally in the bracket, a plurality ofrollers one for each bar lllOlll'liCdTOtZliflbi-Y on 'one end of the bars in an arcuate row conforming in curvature to the circular for mation of the latches' and riding in contaet with thetops of the latches, a plurality of springs one for "each bar mounted in the bracket and abutting theopposite ends of the bars for urging the bars to pivot to press the rollers downwardly against the latches and" thereby clamp the workpieces in the cooperating grooves as they advance past the machine, a cam fixed near the periphery of the. table andin the path of the pins protruding from the latches beyond the machine for'successively tilting the latches and a second-cam located adjac'ent-to the firstmentioned camfor' su'ccessively 'ejectiiig the tw orkpieces' whenthe latches aretiltedf 9 8.Apparatus' for gripping a-plur'ality of workpieces and feeding themin succession'to a machine which performs work on them, which comprises a circular-table mounted rotatably adjacent to such a machine, means forrotating the table to 'advancethe peripheryjthereof past the machine, a ring having an annular shelf on one side thereof secured concentrically to the top of the table near its periphery, said ringhaving a plurality of radially extending grooves at equal intervals on its periphery into which the workpieces tit and protrudebeyond both sides of the ring, a plurality of latches joined pivotally to the ring in a circular end to end formation, each of said latches having a pin protruding from one side thereof and having a groove formed in the bottom thereof for cooperating with one of the grooves in the ring to clamp one of the workpieces therebetween, each of said clamp thewo rkpieces in the cooperating from the latches to successively tilt the latches latches also having a tongue protruding from one end thereof and having a corresponding slot formed in the opposite end thereof so that the tongue and the slot on each set of adjacent latches normally interlock," a bridge supported above a portion of the periphery of the table near the machine, a bracket suspended from the bridge, a plurality of bars mounted pivotally in the bracket, a plurality of rollers one for each bar mounted rotatably on one end 'of the bars inan arcuate row conforming incurvatureto the ring and riding in contact with the tops of thelatches; a pluralityof springs one for each bar mounted in the bracket and abutting the opposite ends of the bars .forurging the bars to pivot to press the rollers/downwardly against the latches and thereby grooves as they advancepast the machine a pair of stationary cams mounted above theshelf ou the ring and alongside the circular formationof the latches beyond the machine, one ofsaid cams being in the path of the pins protruding and the other cam being in the path of the protruding portions of the workpiecesto eject them successively when the latches are tilted.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 401,138 Disston Apr. 9, 1889 l,931,699 Hubbell Oct. 24, 1933 2,361,691 r v Edelmann Oct. 24, 1944 

